Seat controlled illumination



Feb. 11, 1941. c R. THOMPSON 2,231,644-

SEAT CONTROLLED ILLUMINATION Filed Aug. 12, 1959 15 H \\\\m\luh 7 INVENTOR CAIPOA/A/E X2. THOMPJOA/ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relatesto seat controlled illumination. It is particularly directed to an illumination system to aid in directing patrons to seats in motion picture theaters and other places of amusement.

An object of this invention is to provide a system of the character described including a lamp under each seat adapted to illuminate the floor beneath the seat to guide a patron to the seat, the lamp being turned on when the seat is up and vacated and. automatically turned off when the seat is lowered and occupied.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a system of the character described, a small elongated, preferably colored electric lamp to be placed on a board connecting the rear legs of each chair above the floor and below the seat, within a metal reflector adapted to throw the light on the floor, the lamp being protected by a wire screen.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a system of the character described, a hand opererated switch at the end of each row of chairs to shut oii the current for said row when the lights aria not needed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple and foolproof system of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install, which shall be positive in operation, and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consistsin the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is .a front elevational view of several rows of theater chairs provided with an illumination system embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse, elevational cross-sectional view through one of the lamps; and

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram illustrating the improved system.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l0 designates rows of theater chairs ll provided with 55 an illuminating system embodying the invention to illuminate the floor l2 beneath the chairs to aid in guiding patrons to their seats.

Each chair [0 has a pair of spaced rear legs [4,

a back [5, and a swinging seat I 1. Interconnectgfij ing the rear legs Id of each chair is a board I8 located preferably about 6 inches above the floor and below the seat. Fixed to each board I8 is a lamp fixture l9 having a curved metal reflector 20 adapted to reflect light downwardly. Within each reflector is suitably mounted an elongated horizontal lamp 22 preferably having a colored bulb. The reflector may be closed by a wire screen 24 removably mounted thereon and held in place by a spring clip 25.

On each chair is a switch 30 comprising a pair of normally non-contacting switch arms 3|, 32, when the seat is down and occupied. When the seat is lifted, it engages an extension on one of the switch arms to close the switch automatically for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The lamps 22 in each row are connected in parallel circuit, and each is controlled by one of the switches 30. When a seat is down and occupied, the lamp 22 beneath the seat is off. When the seat is vacated, the lamp is automatically turned on to illuminate the floor beneath the seat to guide another patron to the vacant chair.

A hand operated switch 40 is provided for the wiring in each row preferably located at the end of the row so that all the lights in the row may be turned off if desired.

A master switch in the feed lines 4lmay also be used to turn oil all the lamps 22 in the theater at once.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A theater chair having vertical rear legs and a pivoted seat adapted to be swung upwardly against the back of the chair, a horizontal member interconnecting said rear legs and disposed above the floor and below the seat, a reflector mounted on said member, a lamp disposed within said reflector, a wire screen removably secured to said reflector to shield the lamp, means to illuminate and extinguish said lamp including a circuit, a switch comprising normally spaced contact arms interposed in said circuit, said switch being positioned on said chair rearwardly of said seat, said arms adapted to be actuated by the rear edge portion of said seat when moved in one direction about its pivot to close the gap between said contact arms to thus illuminate said lamp.

CAROLINE R. THOMPSON. 

